Today we’d like to introduce you to Yojaira Milkez.
Hi Yojaira, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself
Coming from a single-parent home with five other siblings and being the eldest girl, I took it upon myself to learn how to cook simple meals such as rice, beans, and chicken. This was in means to help my mother and take a load off of her busy day.
I would watch my mother cook from afar (she’s a great cook also it’s who I learned the most from) and then when she would be at work I would try to cook dinner just like she did. At first, it was horrible (laughs). I remember my brothers making fun of my rice the first time because it was so mushy it could stick to the wall.
But just like anything in life, the more you do it, the better you become at it. So, I continued to try until I got it right. After that, I began to feel a connection to the art of cooking. I began to embrace the diversity of foods. Where I come from, cultural diversity is the foundation of unity. I come from a small city in New Jersey called Paterson. Growing up there, every street was filled with various cultures from corner to corner.
From Asians Jamaicans to Haitians to Dominicans, Peruvians, Colombians, Puerto Ricans to Italians; we are loaded with culture, and with that comes great food. Food choice is not an issue over there. So, by the time I was 13, cooking was natural to me. It was automatic; I would take over that kitchen like nothing.
I love cooking for my family, friends, and myself (laughs). Fast forward to my early 20’s, I’m now cooking for birthday parties, family gatherings, work gatherings (which led to them asking if I could cook something for them). At this point, I’m just doing this because I really enjoy it and so do others.
So, I began to make my mother’s famous empanadas that she would make us when we were younger. But I add my twist to it, and I start to bring these two events or gatherings, and people start going crazy for my empanadas. To the point where now I’m being asked, “can I place an order?”. I never thought of it as so until then.
In 2015, I began to take orders on what I named my “Colombirican Empanadas” (Colombian Texture Puerto Rican Flavor). This was just a very small step into something I didn’t even know was about to happen. I began jus sell my empanadas, and then it branched out to people asking me to cater an entire birthday event or meeting something small, but I was more than happy to take on the task. Right before Covid, I began to take the idea of making this a business more serious.
My family and close friends encouraged me to do so, but I didn’t know where to start. Then the Covid-19 pandemic hit us. This was when I launched my page on social media got my LLC and food serve certified because I had time to think, research, and the number of people asking to place orders during the lockdown. I knew that this was something I had to do.
Besides, I love cooking. It comes naturally, and now more than ever, people were relying on my services not only because they didn’t want to go out but also because they enjoyed my food, which made me more confident that this was right. And here I am. I am still not where I’d like to be, but I am way further than I ever imagined, so for that, I am grateful and beyond humbled that my community and my city support my dream.
I hope to own my food truck soon to be more accessible to my community and share all these yummy foods. Eventually, I dream of having my restaurant where all walks of life can sit and enjoy a good meal, feel good and leave happy.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Nothing smooth about the road. But all worth the ride. So definitely, learning how to run a business and where to get access to the information you need for your type of business was a struggle. You know, it’s like everything. It’s a little hard at first, but it gets easier once you get started.
Investing was a struggle, especially when you have a family and bills apart from the new ones you’re creating, so learning to balance the input vs. output ratio, but again, it gets better. These are just a few, but all great things require work, so I know every bump I surpass is a step closer to achieving the goal.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I cook comfort food. I pride myself in cultural diversity when it comes to food, I love mixing different food or spices to create a dynamic dish.
I specialize in empanadas but enjoy catering to various delicious dishes and fritters such as alcapurrias, Rellenos, and soruillos. I believe what sets me apart is the authenticity of the dishes I make and the fact that each order is made with love and undivided attention. I take pride in my work and the craft of my dishes.
What do you think about happiness?
There are many things that make me happy but what brings me the most joy is seeing people in unity, enjoying life, and eating good food. Because it’s when we are the most acceptable and reasonable.
When enjoying the company of others while nourishing our bodies with good food. I always visioned having a place where all walks of life can come and sit and eat together as one. And I hope to bring this feeling and illicit this atmosphere to life when I have my own restaurant one day.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @Yojiskitchen
